The United Nation's special envoy to the Middle East Robert Serry visited the Gaza Strip on Sunday for the first time since an interim Palestinian unity government was sworn in last week.

Serry met with newly-appointed officials of the unity government and pledged UN support for Palestinian reconciliation.

"I congratulated the ministers on their appointment and discussed with them the many practical challenges ahead,” the UN special coordinator said in a statement.

"Gazans must, as soon as possible, feel the dividends of unity. Open crossings both for goods and people, access to construction material, re-establishing trade links between the West Bank and Gaza and exports are urgently needed to kick-start the economy and create job opportunities,” he added.